Expelled Bihar Congress leaders seek meeting with Rahul Gandhi to flag ‘ground reality’

A group of former Bihar Congress leaders, who were expelled following the state assembly elections, gathered outside the Indian National Congress headquarters in Delhi to seek an audience with Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. They argued that only a direct briefing could convey the on‑ground challenges facing the Bihar party unit, and they presented a memorandum to AICC headquarters in‑charge Manish Chatrath, who accepted it.

The protest featured senior figures such as former spokesperson Anand Madhab, ex‑MLAs Anil Singh, Chhatrapati Yadav and Poonam Devi, and former state vice‑president Jamal Ahmed Bhallu. The demonstrators called for the immediate removal of Bihar AICC in‑charge Krishna Allavaru and state president Rajesh Kumar, alleging that their leadership has eroded trust within the organisation. The Bihar Congress had earlier initiated disciplinary action against 43 leaders for alleged anti‑party conduct and indiscipline after its electoral defeat.

Party chief Rajesh Kumar countered that the protesters were primarily ticket‑seeking aspirants denied candidacies by the AICC, and that they have been using media platforms to agitate. He noted that the dissent has attracted support from rival BJP leaders and that the expelled members have not aligned with recent party initiatives, such as the response to the Haldwani incident. The episode underscores ongoing factional tensions within the Congress as it attempts to rebuild its Bihar organisation ahead of future electoral contests.